God Of football Chapter 1000 - 18

The Hampstead residence remained enveloped in a soft, grey light as Izan’s eyes abruptly fluttered open.

For a fleeting moment, he remained motionless.

He simply lay there, gazing upwards at the ceiling, allowing the profound silence to envelop him.

Eighteen.

The number felt foreign in his mind as he turned his head ever so slightly.

Olivia had, sometime during the night, shifted closer to him in her sleep, an arm draped loosely across his chest, her hair fanned out across the pillow as if it had staked its claim.

Not that it ever didn’t.

The gentle rhythm of her breathing was the sole movement for a spell as Izan remained perfectly still, reluctant to disturb her slumber.

He watched her for a breath longer than was perhaps necessary.

Then, leaning over, he placed a tender kiss upon her cheek.

The response was immediate.

Without even opening her eyes, Olivia murmured, her voice a soft whisper, still thick with sleep.

"Happy birthday."

Izan blinked, a touch taken aback, while a faint smirk began to play on his lips.

"You aren't even awake," he remarked softly.

She offered no reply, merely stirring slightly and nestling deeper into the pillow as if her task was complete.

He lingered for another second before carefully extracting himself from the warm tangle of the covers. Then, he turned towards the smaller bed situated on the opposite side of the room.

"Just as I suspected," Izan commented aloud before moving to close the main door, which Miko had somehow managed to leave ajar.

With that done, he stretched once, then padded across the floor and into the bathroom. Here, the expansive glass window panes were already beginning to capture the nascent light, imbuing the space with an almost ethereal quality.

The mirror above the sink presented him with a familiar visage, though this morning, it seemed to belong to someone a year older.

He ran a hand through his hair, dampening it slightly in the process.

It had grown longer than he’d realized, with strands now brushing the back of his neck and falling across his forehead in a way that caused him to squint slightly.

"I really should get a haircut," he murmured to his reflection.

Precisely on cue, a familiar voice chimed in.

[Congratulations and Happy birthday, Izan. You are now eighteen years old.]

He flicked a glance sideways, entirely unsurprised, as this was far from his first encounter with the voice.

"Thanks," he replied dryly, the system’s well-wishes since its inception still failing to sit quite right with him.

The system continued, its tone as if reciting from an unseen record.

[You have embodied the best version of yourself over the past year, but this is merely the commencement. You-]

"Hold on a moment," Izan interjected, leaning against the cool marble of the counter.

"Still no gift?"

A brief silence followed before the voice responded, a hint of mild curiosity coloring its tone.

[Am I not already sufficient?]

Hearing this, Izan couldn’t help but picture a smirk playing on the system's vocal cords.

He pondered this for a second, observing his own reflection.

Then, with a small chuckle, he shook his head.

"No," he stated, pushing himself away from the counter.

"You already are."

He turned towards the shower, twisting the handle as tendrils of steam began to billow into the room. A few seconds later, the comforting sound of running water replaced the earlier quietude.

Roughly an hour later, the tantalizing aroma of something sweet reached him before the sound of voices did.

Izan had just descended the final stair when the singing commenced.

"¡Cumpleaños feliz... cumpleaños feliz...!"

He froze mid-step into the kitchen, already shaking his head as the scene before him came into full view.

Hori stood by the table, her phone held aloft to capture the moment, while Miranda and Komi flanked her on the other side, clapping along in perfect rhythm.

And there, in the center of it all, stood Olivia, holding a home-baked cake with a single candle, its flame flickering bravely against the morning light.

As they concluded the song with a dramatic flourish, Izan ran a hand down his face, covering his eyes with both palms, a suppressed laugh escaping him.

"You lot are truly unbelievable."

"Blow out the candle before it melts the frosting," Miranda instructed, nudging the plate closer.

He leaned forward and complied, extinguishing the flame with a single, swift breath.

Komi, positioned behind Olivia, erupted in applause as if witnessing a stadium-worthy performance.

From Olivia’s other side, Miranda crossed her arms, tilting her head.

"So," she began, narrowing her eyes, "what did you wish for?"

Izan, without even glancing her way, picked up the knife and began to cut into the cake.

"You know I'm never telling."

"Worth a shot, though," she muttered as he slid the first slice onto a plate. He then looked up at her properly.

"Cake on an empty stomach. The nutritionist will likely give me an earful."

"Actually," he continued, his brow furrowing slightly, "what are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be at work already?"

Miranda slowly raised her hand as if contemplating a playful slap, causing Izan to instinctively flinch back, albeit jokingly.

"Careful now," she warned.

She then pointed directly at him with that same hand.

"What would be the point of my job if I can't take a moment to wish my boss a happy birthday?"

He regarded her for a duration.

Then, he chuckled.

"Flatterer."

Olivia moved nearer, her shoulder lightly grazing his as she reached for a plate.

"So," she inquired, looking up at him, "what are your plans for today?"

Izan offered a shrug, nudging another cake slice towards Hori.

"I'm not entirely sure yet," he confessed. "We can discuss it later, after training."

The instant those words escaped his lips, Miranda cleared her throat audibly, capturing his attention.

"What is it now?" Izan questioned.

"Actually," she stated, arms crossed once more, "regarding that."

"Arteta wanted me to relay a message. He wished you a happy birthday. And..." she paused deliberately, savoring the moment, "...he hopes you'll be taking the day off."

Izan released a drawn-out sigh, leaning back against the counter.

"If they keep granting me so many days off," he remarked, shaking his head, "I'll soon forget the game."

"Look at it from a positive angle," Olivia responded casually. "You'll have time to contemplate your future."

He turned his gaze towards her.

"And what about you?"

She gestured downwards at her attire.

"I have lectures."

Hori, already midway through a piece of cake, hoisted her backpack.

"School."

Miranda tapped the watch adorning her wrist.

"Work."

Komi finally offered a small wave, phone in hand. "Work for me too."

Izan surveyed the kitchen slowly, observing everyone dressed to depart.

This meant...

He pointed towards the living room, where Miko had just ambled in, tail giving a lazy wag.

"So, it's just me and the dog?"

Miko responded with a single bark, as if in confirmation.

Izan sighed with theatrical flair and dropped his head back.

"Just fantastic," he declared, causing Miko's ears to droop as if she felt insulted by his words, which erupted into a fit of laughter from those present.